St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-23

SOlnetnlnS serious the matter Wltn
Alfred-he had a hobby. Any one who
has male relative affected with a
hobby, whether it is politics, drainage,
orchids, or poultry raising, can realize
how serious this matter was on learning
that Alfred's hobby was health. This
unfortunate young man had dySpeptic
father and mother, and he had heard
more about i'll health ever since his
childhood than if he had attended
course of medical lectures for
years. His mother had to have
certain articles of diet continually pre-
pared for her dyspepsia, and his father.
having a slightly different style of dyS-
pepSia, had to have his meals prepared
especially for his needs. The family
atmosphere was always regulated by
dyspepsia; if depressed day happened
to take both parents at once, deep gloom
prevailed over the household. If de-
preston seized upon one parent on a
day when the other felt cheerful, there
were apt to be conflicting breeZes, with
tendency to storms. On days when
both parents felt able to order pudding
for next day, Alfred knew he might ask
favors and obtain indulgences, and he
always improved the occasion, well
knowing that the day after the pudding
would be one of darkness and despair.
On cheerful days Alfred,s parents
talked of nothing but of what they
talked only of what they had eaten.
Having studied all these phases of the
fruits of good living, Alfred realized
that though his youth had borne
him safely through years of luxurious
dining there might be wrecked diges-
tiOIpin store for him, SO he took advan-
tage of his four years of college life to
cultivate an abstemiOus appetite and a
habit of taking active exercise daily.
Thus his hobby thrived and grew till it
demanded nothing less than that Alfred
should take for himself healthy wife
or none. For this eccentric frame of
mind Alfred'S parents were directly re-
SponSible, since it was impossible to
contemplate their sufferings, their
temper and appearance without seeing
that life would not be worth living
under like conditions. But Alfred found
it most difficult to satisfy the demand of
his hobby, being fettered in his efforts
by that uncomfortable old truism,
Things are not what they SEEM" He
wanted a partner for his fine and well
cared for digestion, incloSed in the frame
OF a pretty and intelligent girl; but.
though he knew dozens of delightful
girls, and could have ascertained with
out difficulty the exact state of their
hearts Che being, as aforesaid, young.
rich and handsome), he was
unable to feel positively assured of the
state of their digestive organs. Rosy
cheeks, bright eyes, rounded forms and
abundant hair were all present to his
sight, but how could he be sure that
their owners did not have ''blue SPELLS"
NERVOUS attacks" and "temp'ry spells?''
Perhaps they also partook daily of med
icineS-by spOonfuls, by drops in tumb-
lers OF water, by powders at meal times.
Had he not seen all these things from
his youth up, at home, even before his
mother lost her good looks? His mother
had been beauty and belle, but
years of dietetic mHismanagement had
reduced her to the semDlance of a
mummy.
IF one could catch girl when quite
small, shut her up, and feed her prop
erly, happiness would be certain.'' re-
Elected Alfred. But as that could not be
conveniently done in the present age of
barbarous civilization, Alfred resolved
to find girl as nearly up to his require
mentS as possible, marry her immedi-
ately, and while the word "Obey'' was
sun fresh In her memory, restrict her
diet, form her mind and be happy.
There is sage old prOverb among
the PersianS to the effect that upon ev-
cry good resolve wait two genii. one
good and one bad. These parties were
doubtless on hand upon the evening
when Alfred met Flossie Brock. This
young woman had come from neigh
boring country town to visit Alfred's
cousin, Jane Moore. Some DAYS after
her arrival, Alfred with other young
people, was spending the evening upon
the piazza OF James home, and, among
other things, they discussed their antic-
lpated summer outings. SeashOre,
lakes and mountains were named. and
most of the party were to be widel y di-
Videa during August. In spite of tempt
ing invitations, Alfred had secretly de-
clded on trip to the Virginia hunting
grounds, when he heard Jane say: 'sAnd
here'S FloSSie going to that stupid farm.
where there is no one to see and nothing
to do, just so that she can climb trees!o
A shout of laughter greeted this accu-
sation, to which Miss Flossie replied
only by bright smile, which showed
two rows of white teeth, and a dimple
in which cupid might have taken board
for the summer. "And there's nothing
to eat up there" added one of the
young men.
'..Oh, Flossie eats nothing but oatmea
and potatoes!" said Jane Moore.
Alfred's attention was aroused. sHow
very unusual, Miss Breck,'' he said.
81 eat bread and sometimes meat; but
my aunt, who has always had charge of
me, never allowed me to eat all sorts of
things, as other girls do,' said Flossie,
with pretty blush and deprecating
glance.
Every sensible of her." said Alfred,
becoming more interested. Presently
he learned that the place where she in
tended tO visit was a farm houca in
b county, near village with which
he was familiar.
81 go there sometimes; the fishing is
quite tnlerahle - he said